arthurbdd's review
4.0
Solid overview chronicling the careers of those RPG publishers that arose during the industry's first decade. Obviously, best at the "big picture" stuff, but a good selection of fine detail as well. Full review: https://refereeingandreflection.wordpress.com/2015/04/11/referees-bookshelf-designers-dragons/
craig_tyler's review
3.0
Could have used more about the games being developed and the process and less about the inevitable bankruptcy/litigation/in fighting business end of each developer. It got super repetitive as most of these businesses ended up crashing and burning or were super litigious.
akodoken's review
4.0
This is an interesting book chronicling the early days of the RPG industry. it is a must read for all gamers.
frater's review
5.0
If you have even the slightest interest in roleplaying games, and particularly the history - what games have there been, what companies, and how they affected the development of the hobby that is beloved world wide - then you owe it to yourself to look into this series.
A recent kickstarter success, this is the first volume in the expansion of Appelcine's definitive history to a full four volume set - each volume focused on a decade in the history of roleplaying games, and the companies that were founded during that decade.
This first volume, focusing on the 70's and the initial birth of roleplaying games, is worth the price of admission alone. Included in this volume are companies and individuals that are well known to all fans of early roleplaying - TSR, GDW, Judge's Guild, Chaosium, Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Marc Miller. The facts are meticulously well researched and supported by primary sources collected and contacted over years, and the stories inside are a fascinating look at the games that redefined popular culture for generations of imaginative gamers.
This book has my highest recommendation.
A recent kickstarter success, this is the first volume in the expansion of Appelcine's definitive history to a full four volume set - each volume focused on a decade in the history of roleplaying games, and the companies that were founded during that decade.
This first volume, focusing on the 70's and the initial birth of roleplaying games, is worth the price of admission alone. Included in this volume are companies and individuals that are well known to all fans of early roleplaying - TSR, GDW, Judge's Guild, Chaosium, Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Marc Miller. The facts are meticulously well researched and supported by primary sources collected and contacted over years, and the stories inside are a fascinating look at the games that redefined popular culture for generations of imaginative gamers.
This book has my highest recommendation.
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